“Although there has not been an attempt to take down a jet on U.S. soil with a shoulder-fired missile, Homeland Security has warned about the possibility because the portable, lightweight weapons can be bought on the black market for as little as a few hundred dollars.” So… the US gubbermint is testing anti-missile systems on US passenger jets. First up are three American Airlines Boeing 767-200s that fly daily round-trip routes between New York and California will receive the anti-missile laser jammers this spring, according to the Department of Homeland Security, which is spending $29 million on the tests.

Disclosure: No actual passenger jets were harmed in this program. Since nobody actually thought to take the the time to drop the hammer on a missile aimed at one of these jets, equipped with the spiffy anti-missile system, we don’t really know if it works. What we do know is that these systems will not be cheap (it’s gubbermint mandated, you know) and that the cost will most certainly be passed on to passengers… for a possible threat that may or may not exist… for a system that may or may not work. At least there’s no worry about me bringing on a 14 ounce bottle of melon and mint hair shampoo.